The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

~ALARIC~

Fuck.

I fucking wanted her. My body hurt for Clara. Hearing her say she loved when I said her name did something to me.

It made me wonder if that kiss was truly meant for me. I never had the slightest clue in the past that she could be interested in me. Maybe the kiss was still messing with my head. I was thinking of things that couldn't be true.

Clara has liked, possibly even loved, my younger brother with all her heart. I've seen her face light up around him a hundred times. I never saw her look that way around anyone else. . . But that doesn't mean I haven't noticed how her body always gravitates towards mine whenever I'm near her. That doesn't mean I haven't noticed the little sounds she makes or her little shudders.

Fuck me.

I didn't want to think about that right now. I still had plenty on my hands to deal with. I shouldn't be thinking about Clara in this way, especially since I couldn't get through with Nicole. I had no clue where she was, and I still wasn't convinced she'd signed those divorce papers.

But damn it, I couldn't help it. Her scent has been on me since she kissed me. Even though I'd showered like crazy, it was still stuck on me; it lingered like nothing else. It distracted me, every damn second of every day, it was on my mind. I wanted another taste of her, and I almost did that tonight. I almost gave in and took what my body wanted. I was grateful that Scarlett walked in and reminded me of my actions. I needed that reminder.

I'm unsure what would happen if I'm alone with Clara again. I could barely control myself in a room filled with people; I didn't want to think about what I would do to her if it were just the two of us locked in a room together.

"You sure everything is okay?" Carter asks as he throws the ball at me.

I catch it before it hits my chest.

Thinking about Clara made me forget all about the game with my brother. She had me distracted like no other woman in my life.

"Why?" I ask him. "Are you hoping that I wouldn't beat your ass again?"

He chuckles, "Beat my ass?" He asks. "Come on, big brother, we both know I've won more games than you have."

I laugh, "You're delusional. You wouldn't be able to say that if we kept track of the score."

He tries to tackle me for the ball, but I don't let him have it. I jump and throw the ball into the hoop.

"Add that one to the scoreboard," I tell him.

His face turns serious, "you can't fool me, Alaric. I know something is on your mind. What did Nicole do this time?"

We both forget about the ball and sit on one of the benches.

"I don't know where she is," I confess. "I haven't been able to get through to her. She claimed that she signed the divorce papers, as I mentioned to you before. However, I still have my doubts. Why else would she not have given them to me yet?"

Carter sighs and leans back against the bench, "Nicole is the type of woman to lie about something like that. Give yourself a break. Don't let it get to you. Maybe she already signed it but got caught up in something else. She can't hide from you forever. Eventually, she's going to have to show up at the academy since she works there now."

He was right. I was worrying for nothing.

"Is there someone that you are interested in?" He asks suddenly.

My eyes snap to his. "What?"© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

He quirks a brow at me, "You just seem to be in a daze most of the time. It makes me think that you truly are seeing someone other than Nicole. I'm sure she isn't the one that has you like this."

Yes. Your ex-girlfriend, the woman whose heart you broke. The sister of your wife.

Why the hell were those thoughts in my head?

"I'm not seeing anyone."

It was the truth. I was not dating anyone. I was losing my mind over Clara, but there was nothing going on between us. No matter how badly I wanted her, I knew that I couldn't have her. She was always going to be Carter's ex-girlfriend. I didn't want to date someone that my brother once dated.

But fuck me.

I seemed to forget about that little detail whenever I saw her.

"I was surprised when you asked me about Clara today." He says suddenly.

My jaw clenches, "what was so surprising about it?"

"I didn't see you as the type of person to call about every student who didn't show up to your class for one day." He points out.

I shrug, "She isn't just any student. She's the sister of your wife. Of course, I would be concerned about her."

He nods, "I'm sorry I brought it up."

The fact that he even brought it up to begin with meant that he was catching on to me. He must be able to tell that I was showing more interest in Clara than usual.

Fuck.

I had to get my emotions under control. And I had to do it quickly.